Safety shell



Jan. 10, 192-8. 1

J. KOWOLCHUK SAFETY SHELL Filed March 1, 1927 IN VENTOR I L/o/v/v 7614 04 c/ru/r.

21 TTORNE Y Patented Jan. 10, 1928.

- UNETED STATES JOHN KOWOLCHUK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY SHELL.

, Application filed March 1, 1927. Serial No. 171,869.

This invention relates to safety shells and in particular to a device adapted to be incorporated therein to prevent premature explosion. V

"A particular object of the invention is to provide in connection with an explosive shell, a safety device which may be embodied in the head thereof and which can be used during the loading and handling of the shell to prevent ignition of the explosive charge.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simplified mechanism which may be operated to set the explosive cap in position when the shell is about to be placed flush but which, during transportation may be used to prevent accidental explosion of the shell.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simplified mechanism which may be made up at small cost and which can be incorporated in the shell construction, be positive in its action and which will make the handling of shells of a high explosive nature, quite safe.

To enable others skilled in the art to fully comprehend the underlying features of my invention that they may embody the same in the various modifications in structure and relation contemplated, a drawing depicting a preferred form has been annexed as a part of this disclosure and'in such drawing, similar reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which Figure 1 is a view in perspective of an ex plosive shell showing my safety latch setting key;

Figure 2 is a View in perspective of the safety latch setting key as itwould appear when removed from head of the shell.

Figure 3 is a view in sectional elevation, the same being taken longitudinally of the explosive shell having incorporated therein, my improved safety device.

Figure t is a sectional view taken on the line of Figure 5 and shows the position of the cap :bar whe'nthe explosive cap is in position. ,7 Figure 5 is a view of the end of the shell in section showing the position of the safety mechanism after the setting key has been detached from the shell head, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in sectional elevation of the cap bar showing the incorporation therein of a safety rubber pad and also of the explosive cap.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 5 indicates the body of an explosive shell of the type commonly used and which is held at one end in the shell case 6 andis provided at its forward end with the head 7 surmounted by the crown 8. The crown Sis threadedly connected to the head 7 which, in turn, has threaded connection with the body 5, the body 5 being provided With an end closure 9 and so frictionally held in the open end of the shell case 6, theshell adjacent the end of the shell case being provided with the usual rifling band 10, the body of the shell is provided with the explosive charge 11, as is common in such type of shell, which charge is ignited through the medium of a detonator of gun cotton or the like 12, which is positioned in a bore 13 formed in the front end wall 14 of the shell body. This wall 14 adjacent the bore 13 is provided with'an extended portion 15 which forms a base across which the cap bar 16 slides, the cap bar being slidably mounted in a suitable standard 17 secured through the medium of the screw 18 to the inner wall of the head 7 and being so disposed that, at its outer end, it allows sliding movement therethrough of said cap bar 16. r This cap bar in its free end 19 is engaged by the free end of a spring 20, to which, atits mid portion, the plunger 21 is secured, the spring being secured to the crown of the shell in any suitable manner such as by the screw 22. The head of the shell is provided with an undercut slot 23 and an opening 24: connecting the slot with the interior of the head, the slot being arranged to accommodate the fiat end 25 of the safety latch setting key 26. The key extends longitudinally of theshell head and crown and terminates in aspring clip end 27 which is adapted to fit the shank 29' of the firing pin '28, the end thereof beyond the end 27 being provided with an enlarged head portion 30 which is held in spaced relation with the crown by the clip 27. The setting key 26 is provided in its mid portion with the finger piece Blwhereby the same can be detached from the shell to set the mechanism in position to cause the discharge thereof. 7 e V It will be evident therefore that in shells of the kind which explode when they strike the ground, it is necessary that the firing pin be maintained in advance position so that when the same strikes the ground it will set ofi the explosive cap to ignite the gun cotton which will, in turn, ignite the explosive charge and it is evidentthat the setting key 26 will prevent depression of the firing pin due to the fact thatvthe clip 27 on the end thereof engagesbeneath the head 30 of the firing pin and prevents its movement towardthe crown of the "shell.

7 In orderto doubly ensure against explosion, I have provided in the cap bar 16 a pad the gun cotton charge.

ofrubberfor otherlike'material 32 which will prevent thejfi'ring pin from. igniting This rubber pad may be incorporated'in the cap bar, in any suitablefmanner andspaced longitudinally therefrom. I provide the explosive cap 33 which may be positioned beneath the firing pin automatically by the withdrawal of the setting key,- whiehIwill' be hereinafter explained. v .v v i This cap bar 16 has sliding movement through the'bifurcated end 34 of a firing pin sleeve 35,. the sleeve being suitably secured inthe crown 8 and beingprovided with a central wall 36 against which abutsra spring 37, the springsurrounding.the firing pin- 28, normally urging the 'same'in an outward direction through the medium of its contact with'a pin 38, fixed in the firing pin 28*at one end of the sorin 37 "it of course bein L t) 7 D understood that the spring at its opposite end, bears against the wand-36 ofth'e, sleeve 85 and thus normally ur-ges the firing pin' outwardly. "Thepiu is retained in the position shown in Figure 3 orin itssafety position-through the medium of alug 39 formed thereon and arranged to contact with the latch, or slide 21 and. it- 'willbe evident that when the latch 21. ism'aintainedin'the posi- I tioirshown'in Figure 3 by ,reason of the vspring 20, thefiring pin'will' be prevented from having an outward movement. I However,' when the safety latching key'26 is withdrawn'so that its clip end Q'YdisengagQs.

' the firing pin and its'o'pposite end is drawn out ofthe slot 23, the cap bar-16 will ibe immediately released-by reason of the fact that the reduced end of the settingkey 26 which pass; through an opening 40 in" the cap bar 16 has been removedfthereby.allow;

7 ing the spring 2 0 to draw the cap 'bar'tmnsversely through the bifurcated end 34 of the the charge within the shell. It will be noted sufficient to' position the'detonating cap in 'made usefof a rubber safety-pad the cap able materialfmight just'as well be used and character and vwhich will prevent inju to the handlers thereof due' to plOlntttuid.pX-

. Cleft-116.. details of; construction or otherwise I parts without {departing from the spirit. Tof

sleeve 35 to remove the pad 32 from alignment with the firing pin 28' and position v thereunder the detonating cap, 33, it being, evident that the detonating cap will their be resting upon the projection 15 of the wall 14: of the shell body and will-bedirectrly under the firing pin so that when the l; :v: samevis projected thereagainst, the cap will ignite the gun cotton and cause explosive of that when-thesetting key hasbeen removed,

I. .1 action of the slide 21 or latch will be such 'as to allow the firing pin 28 to move outQ- wardly in time to allow the explosive charge 'r to be positioned"thereunder without interi L ferenc'e and itmight be stated at this time 80. that the spring 37 issufliciently tempered'to r withstand the starting inertia; of the shell H when the same is discharged from the shell case to prevent accidental movement of the'firing' pin. I I g In Figure 5, fromthe mechanism illus-o; 7 trated,"-it would appear that the settingkey 7 26, had been withdrawn and themovement 1' of the'fcap bar 16 'is limited-by a suitable V projection ll carriedj thereby, which 001 901 tacts with the guide andprevents'movement i i ofthe cap'ba'r any further thanfwillbe alignment with the firing pin. It is evident that any form of construction may be embodied inorder to carry out the principle of my invention and while I have bar 16, it is'to be; understood ,thatfany siiit. 5 any suitable igniting agent may-beemployed forthe cap 33 andany means maybe in,-

corporated in connection with ,thefiringpinj'f to-prevent untimed movem'ent ofjthe firing} pin',- as at theinstant QfTdiSchargepf; the

shell from its case. 1 v I i I t It will be evident, tl1erefore,fth at I ha provided asafety' mechanism madejotjfew parts, which may be used du i gmeaning;

handling'and transl'iortation of shells plosionofthe shellQv z. ,7 i V r o A further jadvantage of ,my invention '{is the provision of-[a safetyme'chanism'which embodiedfew parts, Whichcan be easily as. sembled and which will prevent aeeidentalf discharge o f the' shell. I

.WhileflI have illustrated I (invention with somedegree of particularity; i v I reallze-lthat in 7 practice various alterations therein may be lmadei ,I; therefore reservev the right and privilege of changing the form 1.

altering the arr ngement or thegcor latedf the invention orthegscopeoof 'the p e de -j Having thus described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is In a projectile containing an explosive 5 charge, a movable firing pin, means for normally urging the pin outwardly, a trans versely movable slide, a detonator on the slide, an anti-ignition pad on the slide, a

spring for moving the slide to position. the

detonator under the firing pin, a projection 10 JOHN KOWOLCHUK. a 5. 

